The National Land Commission (NLC) has revoked title deeds for 200,000 acres of land in Kajiado county after residents petitioned the commission, arguing that locals were left out in the allocations.
According to the petition filed by area Member of Parliament Moses Ole Sakuda on behalf of the Kajiado/Mosiro Adjudication section residents, the titles were issued without the involvement of the local community. The NLC, after reviewing submissions and documents, concluded that local people had been denied their ancestral rights.
A report signed by NLC Chairman Mohammad Swazuri stated that there was no provision for members of the local community to make objections to the adjudication process. As a result, the Chief Land Registrar has been directed to revoke all titles issued for the land and issue new ones to deserving individuals.
Background and Response ¶
The land in question was declared an adjudication section on July 11, 1986, without the knowledge of the Group Ranch members. It is alleged that the declaration was secretly done by the Keekonyokie Clan without involving the minority Purko. The demarcation and allocation of the property were also done secretly in 1990.
The NLC has directed that a fresh adjudication process be conducted in consultation with the locals to ensure the rightful owners are granted their rights. MP Sakuda welcomed the NLC’s ruling, stating it was a victory for thousands of members of the Kajiado/Mosiro Group Ranch who had lost land to swindlers.
In a related matter, the NLC has also revoked title deeds on the disputed boundary between the Kipsigis and Maasai communities in Transmara, citing perennial violence. The commission termed all title deeds of public utility facilities held by individuals as null and void.
Chairman Swazuri announced that the NLC would authenticate title deeds on the disputed border, investigating how the deeds were issued and revoking any irregular ones. He acknowledged that some government officers might have illegally issued deeds, leading to the current situation, and promised to resolve the issue.
The recovered account cited reporting by Mediamax.
